African American History Month

INTRODUCTION
Congress has declared that February is African American history month—a time to study the contributions that African Americans have made to our country. Langston Hughes (1902-1967) made his contribution in literature by writing plays, novels, short stories and poetry. His work was part of the Harlem Renaissance—a period in the 1920’s and 1930’s when the arts flowered in the African American community in New York.

POEM

I, Too
by Langston Hughes

I, too, sing America.

I am the darker brother,
They send me to eat in the kitchen
When company comes,
But I laugh,
And eat well,
And grow strong.

Tomorrow,
I’ll sit at the table
When company comes.
Nobody’ll dare
Say to me,
“Eat in the kitchen,”
Then.

Besides,
They’ll see how beautiful I am
And be ashamed—

I, too, am America.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Hughes, Langston. 1996. THE DREAM KEEPER AND OTHER POEMS. New York: Knopf. ISBN 0679883479

EXTENSION
Discuss how it would feel to be considered a second-class citizen. Would it change how you feel about yourself? Would you be likely to work harder or give up?

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